Ralph Morris Bell

April 8, 2005

Ralph Morris Bell, 82, died at the Trigg Memorial Hospital on April 5, 2005 following an extended illness.
Bell was born on Dec. 28, 1922 in Tucumcari. He was a member of the Center Street United Methodist Church. He served his country during World War II with the U.S. Navy Seabees. He was a member of the B.P.O. Elks lodge No. 1172 of Tucumcari. He was a rancher and was retired from the Soil Conservation Service.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Faye, and his sister Ruth Van Sweden.
Survivors include his wife Vivan Long Bell; his daughter, Dixie Heckendorn (and husband Harry) of Tucumcari; his son, Mac Bell (Betty Ann) of Corona; his sister Mary Nail of Rochester, N.Y.; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; three step children Karen Steinberger (Roger) of Amarillo, Ada Marie Elsner (Bryan) of Los Altos, Calif. and Wayne Long (Polly) of Henning, Minn.; eight step-grandchildren ; three step-great-grand children; sister-in-law Joy Moon of Forrest, sister-in-law Mickie Maben of Farmington; and brother-in-law Jake Van Sweden of Raton.
Funeral services were scheduled 10:30 a.m. today in the Center Street United Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Broom, minister of the Center Street United Methodist Church, officiating. Pall bearers will be Dan Bell, Clifford Graven, John Heckendom, Bob Lamm, Robert Curtis and Bob Van Sweden.
Burial will follow in the family plot of the Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the New Mexico Boys Ranch; P.O. Box 5000; Boys Ranch, N.M. 87002.